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British billionaire Sir Richard Branson takes off on space flight

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Billionaire Sir Richard Branson took off on Sunday from a base in New Mexico aboard a Virgin Galactic vessel bound for the edge of space, a voyage he hopes will lift the nascent space tourism industry off the ground.

A massive carrier plane made a horizontal take-off from Spaceport, New Mexico at around 8:40 am Mountain Time (1440 GMT) and will ascend for around an hour to an altitude of 50,000 feet (15 kilometres).

The mothership will then drop a rocket-powered spaceplane called VSS Unity, which will ignite its engine and ascend at Mach 3 beyond 50 miles (80 kilometres) of altitude, which marks the boundary of space according to the United States.

The spaceplane is carrying two pilots and four passengers, including Branson.

Once the rocket engine is cut off, passengers can unbuckle and experience a few minutes of weightlessness, while admiring the curvature of Earth from the ship’s 17 windows.

After peaking at around 55 miles of altitude, the ship will re-enter the atmosphere and glide back to the runway.

“It’s a beautiful day to go to space,” the brash Brit wrote in a tweet earlier where he posted a video of himself biking to the base and meeting with his crewmates, all Virgin employees.

Branson is also aiming to one-up Amazon founder Jeff Bezos by winning the race to be the first tycoon to cross the final frontier in a ship built by a company he founded.

Earlier, he posted a picture of himself standing in a kitchen with SpaceX boss Elon Musk, who’d come to show his support. 

Several tourists journeyed to the International Space Station in the 2000s, but on Russian rockets.

Branson’s official role is to evaluate the private astronaut experience to enhance the journey for future clients.

– Space base -Branson, who founded the Virgin Group that today has interests in everything from commercial aviation to fitness centres, is known for his appetite for adventure and has set world records in hot air ballooning and boating.

“As a child, I wanted to go to space,” the 70-year-old wrote a few days ahead of his trip.

He founded Virgin Galactic in 2004, but the dream almost came to an end in 2014 when an in-flight accident caused the death of a pilot, considerably delaying the program.

Since then, VSS Unity has successfully reached space three times, in 2018, 2019 — which included the first crew member who wasn’t a pilot — and finally May this year.

Sunday’s spaceflight takes off from Spaceport America, a huge base built in the Jornada del Muerto desert, around 20 miles southeast of the nearest dwelling, Truth or Consequences.

Financed largely by the state of New Mexico, Virgin Galactic is the principal tenant.

– Paying passengers in 2022? -After Sunday, Virgin Galactic plans two further flights, then the start of regular commercial operations from early 2022. The ultimate goal is to conduct 400 flights per year.

Some 600 tickets have already been sold to people from 60 different countries — including Hollywood celebrities — for prices ranging from $200,000 to $250,000.

And though, according to Branson, “space belongs to us all,” the opportunity, for now, remains the preserve of the privileged.

“When we return, I will announce something very exciting to give more people the chance to become an astronaut,” he promised.

The competition in the space tourism sector, whose imminent rise has been announced for years, has come to a head this month.

Bezos, the richest person in the world, is due to fly on July 20 on Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket.

Blue Origin posted an infographic Friday boasting how the experience it offers is superior.

The principal point: New Shepard climbs up to more than 60 miles in altitude, thus exceeding what is called the Karman line, the frontier of space according to international convention.

Bezos himself wished Branson “best of luck” in an Instagram post the following day.

AFP

 

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Foreign

German authorities arrest woman suspected of spying for China

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China

German police arrested a woman on allegations of spying as a Chinese agent, prosecutors announced on Tuesday.

The woman, a Chinese citizen identified only as Yaqi X, was arrested by police in the eastern city of Leipzig on Monday.

Her home and workplace were also searched by police.

According to German prosecutors, Yaqi worked for a company providing logistics services at the Leipzig/Halle airport.

She is accused of having repeatedly transmitted sensitive data about flights, cargo shipments and passengers at the airport to Chinese intelligence.

Prosecutors allege that the data included particular details about the transport of military equipment and people connected to a German armaments firm between August 2023 and February 2024.

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Foreign

Malaysia to deepen diplomatic relations with Nigeria in trade, education

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Malaysia to deepen diplomatic relations with Nigeria in trade, education

Malaysia to deepen diplomatic relations with Nigeria in trade, education

Aiyub bin Omar, Malaysia’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, has reiterated his country’s dedication to strengthening diplomatic relations with Nigeria, particularly in trade and education, as they approach 60 years of bilateral relations by 2025.

Omar speaking at an event commemorating Nigeria’s 67th Independence Day and Malaysia’s 61st National Day on Friday in Abuja, highlighted Malaysia’s contributions to Nigeria’s development through technical assistance and expertise under the South-South Cooperation framework.

He said since 1981, 569 Nigerian government officials have benefited from the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) in various technical courses, including trade, economy, construction skills, and cybersecurity.

Omar emphasised the longstanding relationship between the two nations, built on mutual interest in politics and economy.

“In essence, our bilateral relations focus on trade, education, people-to-people contact, and bilateral development assistance.

“Globally, Nigeria ranks as Malaysia’s 37th trading partner, with total bilateral trade valued at USD956 million in 2023.

“This year, our bilateral trade reached USD747 million by July; Nigeria is currently Malaysia’s 4th largest trading partner in Africa, after South Africa, Kenya, and Côte d’Ivoire.

“Malaysia remains a preferred destination for Nigerian students pursuing tertiary education, with approximately 3,386 students enrolled in Malaysian public and private institutions.

“Malaysia’s journey to post-independence was marked by challenges, struggles, and negotiations among political parties, ultimately leading to self-governance.”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, represented by Amb. Mistura Abdulraheem, Director of the Asia-Pacific Division in the ministry, commended the Malaysian people for their unity, resilience, and progress.

He noted that Nigeria and Malaysia have a long-standing diplomatic relationship built on mutual respect, shared aspirations, and common interests, which have been strengthened through economic cooperation.

“Our two countries have enjoyed strong diplomatic ties for decades, built on a foundation of mutual cooperation in various sectors, including trade, education, and technology.

“A shining example is the collaboration between Nigeria and Malaysia, which has facilitated critical exchange in technology transfer, capacity building, and innovation.

“This partnership in technology highlights the potential of our countries working together to address the challenges of the 21st century.

“By leveraging Malaysia’s advancements in areas such as ICT, digital innovation, sustainable development, and oil markets, we are creating opportunities for our people and economies,” he said.

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Crime

Horror in Avignon: Woman Testifies Against Husband Who Drugged Her for Dozens of Men to Rape

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Horror in Avignon: Woman Testifies Against Husband Who Drugged Her for Dozens of Men to Rape

Horror in Avignon: Woman Testifies Against Husband Who Drugged Her for Dozens of Men to Rape

In a shocking case that has gripped the southern French city of Avignon, a 71-year-old woman gave harrowing testimony in court, recounting years of abuse after her husband allegedly drugged her and allowed dozens of men to rape her.

“The image is unbearable, I’m lying lifeless in my bed, asleep, and they’re about to rape me,” the woman told the court. “It’s a barbaric scene. They look at me like a bag of rubbish, it’s unbearable, and I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to get up again.”

Her 72-year-old former husband, who she has since divorced, is standing trial, accused of orchestrating the horrific abuse over a period of 10 years by drugging his wife and arranging for other men to assault her. Fifty men have been accused of participating in the assaults, with 18 currently in custody.

According to the indictment, the husband, a pensioner, made contact with the men online. While no money was exchanged, he reportedly gained satisfaction from watching the rapes. The crimes were discovered after the man was arrested for filming under the skirts of women in a supermarket, leading investigators to uncover hundreds of videos of the assaults on his computer.

The woman, who appeared in court alongside her three children, bravely confronted the accused, some of whom claimed they were unaware that she had been drugged and believed she was pretending to be asleep as part of a consensual game.

“These people knew very well what they were doing and what a lethargic state I was in,” the woman testified, rejecting the defence’s claims.

The abuse only came to light after her husband’s arrest, although she had long complained of memory lapses and extreme fatigue, unaware that her husband had been drugging her.

“I was sedated, like before going into the operating theatre. Afterwards, you can no longer remember the operation. That’s exactly what happened to me,” she told the court.

While 72 men were recorded assaulting the woman, authorities have been unable to identify all the perpetrators from the videos. The trial continues, with most of the accused having admitted to their involvement.

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